The Creators of Baldur's Gate 3 Explains Its Application of AI Tools for New Divinity

The team behind acclaimed RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin recently teased its upcoming project, generating significant excitement within the player base. However, subsequent statements from the company's lead designer have brought clarity to the conversation, touching on the team's philosophy toward generative artificial intelligence.

AI as a Creative Assistant, Not a Substitute

In a recent message, Swen Vincke outlined that the company is using generative AI for specific ancillary functions. These involve developing PowerPoint slides, producing early-stage visual ideas, and creating placeholder text.

Crucially, Vincke emphasized that the end material in the game will be crafted entirely by human creatives. "Larian is writing every line manually," he affirmed.

We are constantly expanding our roster of concept artists and are busily putting together dedicated writer rooms.

Since visual development is being particularly mentioned — we presently have 23 concept artists and have job openings for further talent.

Each initiative we do is supplementary and focused on having people spend more time on actual creation.

Any ML tool implemented properly is supplementary to a creative team routine, never a stand-in for their skill.

Addressing Concerns and Clarifying the Vision

The revelation of employing this technology at first sparked unease among portions of the player base. In reply, Vincke issued further elaboration on public forums.

"Our team utilizes machine learning to explore references, in the same way we use the internet and art books," he wrote. "In the very early ideation stages we use it as a simple sketch for layout which we then replace with original concept art."

He noted, "Our studio recruits artists for their inherent skill, not for their willingness to follow what a AI generates."

Three Pillars of Practical Application

Vincke had previously detailed the studio's targeted approach to this technology, categorizing its use into key functions:

• Handling Monotonous Jobs: This encompasses motion capture cleaning, voice editing, and pipeline-specific tasks like retargeting animations.
• Accelerated Iteration: Using tools to rapidly prototype simple versions of scenarios to test concepts before complete implementation.
• Long-Term Aspirations: Exploring how machine learning could in the future facilitate innovative gameplay, especially in simulating player-driven narratives in a complex RPG.

He clearly stated that core creative areas — like visual art — are are in no way fields where the team is reducing artistic input. In fact, Larian is expanding its staff in these precise positions.

"Our studio is neither releasing a game with any AI components, nor planning on reducing teams to substitute them with artificial intelligence," Vincke stated definitively.